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| Titanic violin could fetch record price at auction | Titanic violin could fetch record price at auction |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The violin that was played to calm passengers on the Titanic as the giant liner sank is to be auctioned in Wiltshire later. | The violin that was played to calm passengers on the Titanic as the giant liner sank is to be auctioned in Wiltshire later. |
| It was played by band leader Wallace Hartley, who died along with 1,517 others as the ship went down. It has a guide price of £300,000. | It was played by band leader Wallace Hartley, who died along with 1,517 others as the ship went down. It has a guide price of £300,000. |
| Other items up for sale include his sheet music and the bag he kept it in. | Other items up for sale include his sheet music and the bag he kept it in. |
| Auctioneer Alan Aldridge said the violin was the "rarest and most iconic" piece of Titanic memorabilia. | Auctioneer Alan Aldridge said the violin was the "rarest and most iconic" piece of Titanic memorabilia. |
| It has taken seven years for the auction house, Henry Aldridge & Son, to authenticate the instrument using several experts. | It has taken seven years for the auction house, Henry Aldridge & Son, to authenticate the instrument using several experts. |
| These included using forensic science experts who are said to have found the wood still contained salt deposits from the sea water. | These included using forensic science experts who are said to have found the wood still contained salt deposits from the sea water. |
| Some people still doubt whether the violin is the genuine article and believe it could not have survived being submerged in sea water. | Some people still doubt whether the violin is the genuine article and believe it could not have survived being submerged in sea water. |
| But it is claimed the violin survived in a leather case strapped to Mr Harley's body who was found wearing his cork and linen lifejacket. | |
| A diary entry by his fiancee, Maria Robinson, said it was saved from the water and returned to her. | A diary entry by his fiancee, Maria Robinson, said it was saved from the water and returned to her. |
| Following her death in 1939, the violin was given to her local Salvation Army citadel and was later passed on to the current anonymous owner's mother in the early 1940s. | Following her death in 1939, the violin was given to her local Salvation Army citadel and was later passed on to the current anonymous owner's mother in the early 1940s. |
| The auction house said it had attracted interest from collectors all over the world and added that more than 315,000 people viewed it during a three-month exhibition in the United States. | The auction house said it had attracted interest from collectors all over the world and added that more than 315,000 people viewed it during a three-month exhibition in the United States. |
| The auction is due to start at 13:00 BST in Devizes. | The auction is due to start at 13:00 BST in Devizes. |